Bills rookie QB Allen earns first-team reps at minicamp

Rookie first-round pick Josh Allen worked his way into the first-team offense on a timeshare basis, Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott said Tuesday.

"He's worked hard," McDermott said. "This has been part of the plan from the start. But give Josh credit, he's earned it."

The Bills traded incumbent starter Tyrod Taylor to the Cleveland Browns and signed Cincinnati Bengals backup AJ McCarron as a free agent before trading up to take Allen with the seventh overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

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McCarron will get work with the starters, and McDemott did not specify how snaps would be divided.

"AJ and [Nathan Peterman] have been fantastic," Allen said. "Can't find a better guy than either of them. AJ has helped me a lot. He's been in the league for awhile."

Allen said coaches are working on his attention to detail, making sure he makes the right checks and understands what he's processing on film.

"I wouldn't say (the offense) is complicated -- it's complex, different than I'm used to," Allen said. "It's about doing what we can do with what we've got."

Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, a Bill Belichick disciple and former offensive coordinator at Alabama with roots in Rochester, N.Y., is more fiery than Allen is accustomed to as a coach and communicator. But Allen said the pace is great and helps rookies develop and learn at the same time.

"We can get game-like reps, still throwing routes against DBs," Allen said. "It's a game-like feel."

Allen said he's had very little time to catch his breath since the draft process began in January with position-specific work with private QB coach Jordan Palmer. And when the current mandatory minicamp wraps up, Allen has a little more work to do with fellow rookies before he gets a break. But Allen also made it clear he's not looking for time off.

"Not at all," Allen said. "This is what I've wanted to do my entire life. Now that I'm here, this has reiterated this is what I want to do. The facilities are open 24-7, I get to come in and throw the football."